My name is Carlo DeVito, and I am the author of East Coast Wineries: A Complete Guide from Maine to Virginia published by Rutgers University Press. This blog is dedicated to primarily east coast wines and wineries including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. It will also feature products and information from other regions.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Legislative Gazette: New Laws to Help New York Vintners (NY)

In August, Gov. Andrew Cuomo toured vineyards along the
western shore of Seneca Lake to promote the Taste of New York program.
Continuing the state's efforts to better market and promote locally produced
wine, the governor recently signed a series of bills permitting the sale of
bottled wine at roadside farm markets, as well as the rebranding and
designation of wine trails throughout upstate New York to stimulate local
economies and boost tourism. Photo by courtesy of the Governor’s Office.

New laws to help NY vintners
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by TANIQUE WILLIAMS

October 7, 2013Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently signed into law a series of bills
allowing New York state wine to be offered locally at roadside farm markets as
well as the rebranding and designation of state wine trails. The bills come on
the heels of recent efforts to boost tourism and job growth within local
communities throughout upstate New York by marketing and promoting the state's
thriving wine industry.

"These new laws will build on our continuing efforts to
promote New York's wine industry across the state and beyond, boosting tourism,
local economies and job growth," Cuomo said.

The farm markets bill (S.267/A.1512), sponsored by Sen.
William Larkin, R-New Windsor, and Assemblyman William Magee, D-Nelson, permits
the sale of wine produced by up to two licensed wineries at roadside farm
markets located within 20 miles of the wineries.

The governor signed four wine trail bills; one expands an
existing wine trail, another expands and renames two existing wine trails, and
one establishes a new wine trail. The goal is to increase tourism in New York's
wine-making regions. Photo by AP.

The bill amends the alcoholic beverage law and creates a new
license obtainable through the State Liquor Authority for farm wineries,
special wineries or micro wineries to be able to sell bottles of wine for
"off-premise" purchase at roadside farm markets.

"By allowing New York's wide variety of quality wines
to be sold at roadside farm markets, we are opening another door for this
important industry. This is a measure that will support the growth of local
businesses in our communities, and provide an important boost to wine producers
across the state," Magee said.

The annual fee for roadside stands to obtain a retailers
license to sell the bottled wine is $100 according to Section 7 of the bill,
which gives regulatory authority to the Liquor Authority as to what precisely
constitutes a farm stand and mandates that such farms stands are not to conduct
wine tastings.

A spokesperson from Larkin's office said the provision in
the bill against wine tastings by roadside markets was included to simplify the
licensing process. He said in order to streamline the licensing process, that
restriction had to be included because if people were to drink at the stands,
more oversight would be required by the Liquor Authority — potentially further
complicated by concerns of drunk driving.

The primary focus of the farm markets bill is off-premise
consumption of the wine, simply providing a venue for farmers to sell locally
produced wine, and "thereby increase excise tax collections and increase
employment by New York wineries," according to the bill language.

Sen. Terry Gipson, D-Rhinebeck, co-sponsor of the farm
markets bill said, "Showcasing and selling locally produced wines will
help grow the economy and provide additional income for our local farmers and
vintners."

He continued, "As the ranking member on the Agriculture
Committee and a member of the Tourism Committee, this law will not only boost
our local agriculture economy, but will also enable anyone who stops at a
roadside stand to bring home the best flavors of our region."

The governor also signed four wine trail bills into law; one
expands an existing wine trail, another expands and renames two existing wines
trails, and one establishes a new wine trail.

"We are increasing market opportunities for local
producers and farmers and expanding our wine trails to attract tourists to
communities across upstate New York. Our state is home to hundreds of wineries
that produce some of the best wine in the world, and we want both New Yorkers
and visitors to come and enjoy them," Cuomo said.

Bill A.4614-a/A.2790, sponsored by Larkin and Assemblyman
James Skoufis, D-Chester, expands the Shawangunk East Wine trail. The trail
will include State Route 32 from Route 17 in Orange County, to Route 94 in New
Windsor to Route 9W, continuing westward on to Route 44/55 in the Town of Lloyd
to its intersection with Route 208 in the Town of Gardiner in Ulster County,
according to the Governor's Office

"I am very pleased that two of my bills helping the
wine industry were signed into law. By authorizing licensed farm stands to sell
local wines and expanding the Shawangunk East Wine trail, we are creating more
opportunities for New York state to promote its wine industry," Larkin
said. "I thank Governor Cuomo for his approval of these two laws."

Bill A.2024-a/S.1095-a) sponsored by Senator George Maziarz,
R-Newfane, both extends and renames two Niagara wine trails. The Niagara
Escarpment Wine Trail will be renamed the "Niagara Wine Trail Ridge"
and will include all of Route 104 through Route 390, according to the
Governor's Office.

The Niagara Wine Trail will be renamed the "Niagara
Wine Trail Lake" and will include portions of Route 269, Routes 104 and
18, Route 425, and Route 62 in Niagara and Erie counties.

"As the wine industry grows in the Niagara Region, we
need to keep supporting it and helping it realize its potential," Maziarz
said. "The Niagara Wine Trail is a homegrown success story that leads to
jobs and tourists in our area. I thank the governor for recognizing how
important this measure is to our communities.

Bill S.1013-b/A.3758-c, sponsored by Sen. Betty Little,
R-Queensbury, and Assemblywomen Janet Duprey, R-Plattsburgh, establishes the
Adirondack Coast Wine Trail. The route will extend from exit 35 off of I-87 in
the Town of Peru and continue to Plattsburgh, according to the Governor's
Office.

A spokesperson from Little's office said being from the
region and serving as chair of the Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and
Recreation Committee, it was fitting that Little sponsor the bill after hearing
from wine producers in the North Country looking to promote their products.

He said the hope is that people who visit the established
and successful wine trails in Quebec and Vermont make the short trip to the New
York trails and sample what the state has to offer.

"Communities in the North Country have found great
success in growing grapes and producing wine and the Adirondack Coast Wine
Trail will help promote and direct people to this local treasure," Little
said. "The number of wineries is increasing in the region, and we look
forward to adding more as the industry grows."

Duprey said the bill was strongly supported by local
wineries, the North Country Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau and will
bring attention to the growing "agribusiness."

"I am pleased the governor signed into law the
Adirondack Coast Wine Trail legislation," she said. "Our local
wineries offer great views of the Adirondack Mountains and Lake Champlain while
providing a wide variety of award winning vines. As the first international
wine trail, the Adirondack Coast Wine Trail will connect trails to Vermont and
Quebec, supporting tourism throughout the region."

"New York's wine industry is a robust and thriving part
of our agricultural sector and one of our state's greatest economic assets,"
Young said.

"Our wine and wineries often go unheralded, which is
why this legislation is so important to making consumers aware of all that New
York state wine has to offer," Young said. "Through strengthened
marketing and promotional efforts we will improve wine tourism and economic
development and our state will benefit significantly."

Goodell said since its creation in 2000, the Chautauqua wine
trail now includes more than 30,000 acres of vineyards and with the rebranding
will be able to implement a joint marketing program with Pennsylvania, bringing
national attention to farms, vineyards, and other businesses across Western New
York and the Southern Tier.

"The Lake Erie Wine Country Trail highlights the
largest concord grape growing area in the nation and our historic villages,
lakes, unspoiled woods and farmland that are unique from Silver Creek
Harborcreek, Pennsylvania," Goodell said.

"In addition to our own marketing efforts, we will now
also benefit from the marketing efforts of the Pennsylvania wineries, thereby
making the entire region even more attractive as a destination," Goodell
said.

According to the bills, there is no cost to New York
taxpayers. There will be a fee for those who obtain the farmers markets
license. Businesses looking to expand the opportunities to sell their products
will help pay for the new trails' implementation.

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About Me

Carlo DeVito is a long time wine lover, and author of books and magazine articles. He is the author of Wineries of the East Coast. He has traveled to wine regions in California, Canada, up and down the east coast, France, Spain and Chile. He has been a published executive for more than 20 years. He shepherded the wine book program of Wine Spectator as well as worked with Kevin Zraly, Oz Clarke, Matt Kramer, Tom Stevenson, Evan Dawson, Greg Moore, Howard Goldberg, and many other wine writers. He has also published Salvatore Calabrese, Jim Meehan, Clay Risen, and Paul Knorr.
Mr. DeVito is the inventor of the mini-kit which has sold more than 100,000,000 copies world wide. He has also publisher such writers as Stephen Hawking, E. O Wilson, Philip Caputo, Gilbert King, James McPherson, John and Mary Gribbin, Thomas Hoving, David Margolick, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., John Edgar Wideman, Stanley Crouch, Dan Rather, Dee Brown, Susie Bright, and Eleanor Clift.
He is also the owner of Hudson-Chatham Winery, co-founder of the Hudson Berkshire Beverage Trail, and president of the Hudson Valley Wine Country.
https://carlodevito.wordpress.com/